Staff Attorney

A unique opportunity for a committed, resourceful lawyer to be part of a team reinventing the immigration legal services program for the leading provider of such services to torture survivors residing in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

TASSC BACKGROUND

The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) International is the only U.S. organization of its kind founded by and for survivors of torture. Since our founding in 1998, TASSC has provided services to survivors of torture from 72 countries. Our mission is to end the practice of torture wherever it occurs and support survivors as they empower themselves, their families, and communities. TASSC recognizes the psychological effects of torture and takes an integrated and survivor-centered approach, to encourage and supplement the efforts of survivors in the Washington DC region who come to us seeking independence, self-sufficiency, and brighter futures. Four programs, all provided with personalized and purposeful support, are the cornerstones of our work and address the main areas of concern for many survivors: legal, social, psychological, and advocacy.

POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW:

TASSC is hiring Staff Attorneys, reporting to the Legal Services Program (LSP) Manager, to provide immigration-related legal representation for survivors of torture. This is a full-time (37.5 hours/week) position, but flexible scheduling is possible. TASSC is a hybrid workplace, with some services provided directly to survivors at our offices in Washington DC, but with significant remote work possible. Our LSP is in transition, and the new Staff Attorney will be an integral part of the shaping and directing the provision of high-quality legal services to survivors.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Legal Representation

• Provide representation to caseload of affirmative and defensive asylum cases, as well as other related immigration law matters;
• Ensure all eligible survivors receive high-quality legal representation by exercising due diligence and strongly advocating for each survivor;
• Identify, analyze, and respond to legal and/or procedural changes that affect survivors of torture and other asylum seekers, including statutory changes, executive orders, proposed regulations, and decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals or the federal courts;
• Attend individual merits hearings at Baltimore and Arlington immigration courts to represent asylum seekers;

Participation with Partners and Other Stakeholders

• Mentor pro bono attorneys, interns, and fellows through the asylum process;
• In collaboration with TASSC’s Advocacy and Outreach Program Manager, engage in advocacy on behalf of survivors of torture by meeting with members of Congress, legislative aids, and other local officials at the Department of Homeland Security, its various agencies, and the Executive Office of Immigration Review;
• Attend regular TASSC staff meetings, interdisciplinary meetings, legal program meetings, clinical meetings (as necessary), Communities of healing, Legal Orientations, and other TASSC workshops and events;
• Play an active role in TASSC’s annual June Survivors Week;
• Help lead monthly Legal Orientations and workshops;
• Other duties as assigned by the Legal Services Program Manager.

Administrative

• The staff attorney will maintain clear and detailed records of all cases and fulfill grant compliance activities, contributing to the preparation of periodic reports documenting compliance with requirements under the various grants that fund LSP.

QUALIFICATIONS & JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Law degree (JD) from an ABA-accredited US institution and admission to any state OR DC bar;
• Significant prior experience in immigration law, preferably in direct representation of asylum applicants, before USCIS Asylum Offices, the EOIR’s Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the federal courts, or local courts;
• Commitment to working with survivors of torture, and commitment to the campaign to rid the world of the scourge of torture;
• Ability to work effectively with all TASSC staff, including the Legal Services Program Manager, legal interns, fellows, pro bono attorneys, psychologists, clinical case managers, advocacy consultants, job counselors, and social work interns;
• Ability to communicate patiently, respectfully, and empathetically with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including survivors of torture coming from many different countries;
• Ability to manage numerous tasks simultaneously, work under pressure, and identify and properly analyze legal issues, all while meeting deadlines;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills characterized by clarity and accuracy;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, including with volunteers;
• A team-building, collegial approach to interacting with coworkers;
• A commitment to learning about the effects of torture on survivors, their families, and their communities.

 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Flexibility, sense of humor, resourcefulness
• Personal integrity in handling ethically complex and confidential situations
• Self-motivated and comfortable working in stressful situations
• Strong research and analysis skills
• Trauma-informed and sensitive listening and communication skills
• Fluency in a second language a plus (particularly Amharic, French, or Arabic)

TASSC provides a competitive benefits package which includes 80% covered medical and dental, 403B and Roth 403B options, 120 hours vacation in the first year, 96 hours personal/sick time, 13 paid holidays, and a week off between Christmas and New Year's.